Given the danger posed by lorries to cyclists I was wondering if bikeability (road safety / cycling proficiency) offers the cyclist a computer program of what it looks like cycling next to a lorry. Also do they offer what the lorry sees, or rather doesn't see of them?

But in L3 the issues of blind spots (not just lorries) should be discussed with the trainee, ideally with real world examples right in front of them.

I normally find a parked lorry and have a walk around with the trainee asking them if they can see mirrors etc. And then point out even if they can see the mirror they shouldn't assume the driver is looking in them, especially at junctions where the driver is more likely to be looking at what's happening in front of them. I also do A pillars and following vans/lorries through junctions in the blind spot of right turners, etc etc.

L2 won't cover this stuff as such as in theory L2 roads don't often have large vehicles (yeah, right). L2 does not cover filtering, but does teach the trainee to stop in positions where they shouldn't end up in blind spots. Alas, cross roads are optional so it doesn't guarantee they can't get into trouble with big vehicles.

Some local authorities (such as BCC) /training centres visit events with a lorry and matting - the matting is laid around the lorry to demonstrate which areas are and are not visible, and cyclists are also invited to sit in the driver's seat to see what the view is like (or not as the case may be).

Some training centres even do training for lorry drivers, such as BC! who take drivers out on bike and scare the heck out of them, erm, I mean educate them about what it's like to ride a bike near lorries.

It is certainly an area where all participants, both cyclists and drivers, need awareness. Some of my driving is in large vans (sometimes fitted with side camera) and, like many experienced van drivers, I am constantly scanning mirrors (and camera) at junctions. It becomes second nature. But as I only have one pair of eyes there is always the possibility that someone might slip in on the left while I am checking something going on elsewhere. I think I would still see them and react accordingly, but I'm not quite 100% sure about that. That is where the cyclist can help by not passing on the left if I am indicating left. As a cyclist it has always seemed "bleedin obvious" to me that squeezing in on the left of a vehicle indicating left is playing Russian roulette, but my "bleedin obvious" is not so obvious to everyone. So a bit of training all round would be welcome. When all parties look out for each other mishaps are very unlikely. And that is how we would like it.

I never pass a lorry on the inside unless I was in a separate lane.However, that doesn't stop them overtaking me, leaving me stuck on their inside, and then they forget I'm there (they ought at least to have seen me before overtaking unless they need the proverbial white stick).

TBH I think that if anyone needs training on visibility, it's drivers.

Whilst it does not strictly come within Levels1&2 , I usually mention that it would be foolish to ride up the inside of large vehicles for obvious reasons.Some of the videos one sees of cyclists riding in large towns are frightening!Many experienced cyclists would benefit from a little traning.

As far as I am aware there are no educational initiatives I know of that graphically show the huge disparity in views directed at cyclists. I'm a lorry driver, a bus and coach driver as well as a cyclist I think it would be great education to show exactly what drivers of large vehicles can and cannot see.

As an LGV and PCV driver I have the issue of "blind spots" drummed in to me every time I have to do my Certificate of Professional Competence and periodic training/re-training.

As a cyclist, I had never been shown how a small bicycle can literally disappear from a driver's view.

I am an NSI instructor who carries out Safe Urban Driving courses (sud). These courses involve half a day on bikes and half a day of theory.As part of the HGV drivers continual training to keep their licence they have to do these courses .I have had lots of different comments, from cyclists riding 3 or 4 abreast to why is there a cycle path on the left side in the lorries blind spot.!There is a lot of frustration from the drivers, towards the dangerous cyclists that run red lights and take high risk manoeuvres.In every sector of road users there are good and bad road users. If there was investment in standardized road structure, it would reduce accidents and encourage more people to cycle.